I would strongly encourage BirdLife to maintain this species as “data deficient” rather than “least concern,” for several reasons:
First, although the extreme deforestation in West Africa is acknowledged in the text, the range map misleadingly suggests a large area of intact forest in Ghana, for example, which is not the case. West African forests are the subject of intense illegal logging, which is linked to severe declines in bird abundance across species, even if they are not directly persecuted: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320715000658
Second, although it is mentioned in the text that hunting is not known to affect this species, it is known that owls are intensely persecuted for belief-based use in the “fetish” or vodun trade in West Africa, and that this trade is expanding and growing across the West African region: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAmczDcPW7o
Third, Maned Owls and other forest species are not only threatened by deforestation and persecution in Ghana and neighboring countries, but also by ongoing, widespread illegal gold mining (called “galamsey” in Ghana) that not only destroys forests and wildlife in the short-term but poisons the surrounding ecosystems in the long-term: https://citinewsroom.com/2024/10/galamsey-tutag-declares-strike-slams-organised-labours-withdrawal/
Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett’s book, The Birds of Ghana, which is cited above, contains extensive evidence and discussion of these and other immediate threats to this species in particular, as well as other forest birds and raptors in Ghana.
Thank you for considering these comments requesting that BirdLife maintain this species as “data deficient” rather than “least concern.”
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 28 October 2024. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 28 October 2024, when discussions will re-open.
Thank you, Nico, for your comment on the Maned Owl. This species is particularly challenging to assess due to its extensive range, much of which falls within areas that are rarely surveyed, resulting in limited data. This reassessment attempts to address these uncertainties and draw the most plausible conclusions from the available information.
There are a few things we can say with confidence. First, the species does not meet the threshold for Criterion B. Second, there isn’t enough data to estimate its population size, hence we cannot apply Criteria C or D. Recent, scattered records indicate it occurs from Equatorial Guinea to eastern DR Congo, despite extremely limited sampling—especially at night—and there is still uncertainty about its vocalisations. Very few records are to be expected for such a species: but not because it is imminently threatened with extinction. While we might suspect the population is small, that assumption relies on the idea that current sampling is unrepresentative.
Regarding the situation in West Africa, habitat loss from logging, mining, and agricultural expansion poses significant threats. However, the IUCN Red List assesses species at a global level, and while a regional assessment for West Africa might classify the species as Endangered (EN) or Critically Endangered (CR), the recent records indicate that the majority of Maned Owl’s range—and population—lies in central Africa. In this region, large areas of suitable habitat remain intact, and the rate of habitat loss is lower than in West Africa. Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that the global population is not undergoing the same rate of decline suspected in West Africa.
The trade in owl species in some West African countries is concerning and it is difficult to assess the magnitude of the impact. The link you provided describes the owl trade in Nigeria, where the Maned Owl has not been recorded, and notes Barn Owl and Northern White-faced Owl were the main traded species. There is no evidence that trappers are targeting Maned Owl or that any have been located by trappers. While such trade may be expanding across West Africa, there is no evidence that it is impacting the Maned Owl to the extent that it would warrant listing as threatened. Additionally, the absence of recent confirmed sightings outside Taï National Park suggests that the West African population is small. In contrast, most of the species’ range and suitable habitat are in central Africa, where there is little information on the extent of intensive trapping that may impact the species and remains a well-forested area. Since only a small portion of the population may, theoretically, be affected by the owl trade in West Africa, it’s unlikely to be driving rapid declines that would approach or meet Criterion A.
In summary, while the species faces serious threats from habitat loss and potentially from trapping in West Africa, these pressures are limited to a smaller portion of its range. The majority of the population is believed to reside in central Africa, where habitat loss is less severe and vast areas of suitable habitat remain. Additionally, while the use and trade of owls could pose a threat, there is no evidence to suggest it is impacting the Maned Owl, nor that it is occurring at a scale driving population declines that would approach a classification under Criterion A. Should evidence emerge that the use and trade of the species is adversely affecting the population, especially in central Africa, this, along with habitat loss, could warrant a reevaluation.
Preliminary proposal
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 10 November 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 18 November 2024.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Maned Owl is recommended to be listed as Least Concern.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.1 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
I would strongly encourage BirdLife to maintain this species as “data deficient” rather than “least concern,” for several reasons:
First, although the extreme deforestation in West Africa is acknowledged in the text, the range map misleadingly suggests a large area of intact forest in Ghana, for example, which is not the case. West African forests are the subject of intense illegal logging, which is linked to severe declines in bird abundance across species, even if they are not directly persecuted: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320715000658
Second, although it is mentioned in the text that hunting is not known to affect this species, it is known that owls are intensely persecuted for belief-based use in the “fetish” or vodun trade in West Africa, and that this trade is expanding and growing across the West African region: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAmczDcPW7o
Third, Maned Owls and other forest species are not only threatened by deforestation and persecution in Ghana and neighboring countries, but also by ongoing, widespread illegal gold mining (called “galamsey” in Ghana) that not only destroys forests and wildlife in the short-term but poisons the surrounding ecosystems in the long-term: https://citinewsroom.com/2024/10/galamsey-tutag-declares-strike-slams-organised-labours-withdrawal/
Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett’s book, The Birds of Ghana, which is cited above, contains extensive evidence and discussion of these and other immediate threats to this species in particular, as well as other forest birds and raptors in Ghana.
Thank you for considering these comments requesting that BirdLife maintain this species as “data deficient” rather than “least concern.”
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 28 October 2024. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 28 October 2024, when discussions will re-open.
Thank you, Nico, for your comment on the Maned Owl. This species is particularly challenging to assess due to its extensive range, much of which falls within areas that are rarely surveyed, resulting in limited data. This reassessment attempts to address these uncertainties and draw the most plausible conclusions from the available information.
There are a few things we can say with confidence. First, the species does not meet the threshold for Criterion B. Second, there isn’t enough data to estimate its population size, hence we cannot apply Criteria C or D. Recent, scattered records indicate it occurs from Equatorial Guinea to eastern DR Congo, despite extremely limited sampling—especially at night—and there is still uncertainty about its vocalisations. Very few records are to be expected for such a species: but not because it is imminently threatened with extinction. While we might suspect the population is small, that assumption relies on the idea that current sampling is unrepresentative.
Regarding the situation in West Africa, habitat loss from logging, mining, and agricultural expansion poses significant threats. However, the IUCN Red List assesses species at a global level, and while a regional assessment for West Africa might classify the species as Endangered (EN) or Critically Endangered (CR), the recent records indicate that the majority of Maned Owl’s range—and population—lies in central Africa. In this region, large areas of suitable habitat remain intact, and the rate of habitat loss is lower than in West Africa. Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that the global population is not undergoing the same rate of decline suspected in West Africa.
The trade in owl species in some West African countries is concerning and it is difficult to assess the magnitude of the impact. The link you provided describes the owl trade in Nigeria, where the Maned Owl has not been recorded, and notes Barn Owl and Northern White-faced Owl were the main traded species. There is no evidence that trappers are targeting Maned Owl or that any have been located by trappers. While such trade may be expanding across West Africa, there is no evidence that it is impacting the Maned Owl to the extent that it would warrant listing as threatened. Additionally, the absence of recent confirmed sightings outside Taï National Park suggests that the West African population is small. In contrast, most of the species’ range and suitable habitat are in central Africa, where there is little information on the extent of intensive trapping that may impact the species and remains a well-forested area. Since only a small portion of the population may, theoretically, be affected by the owl trade in West Africa, it’s unlikely to be driving rapid declines that would approach or meet Criterion A.
In summary, while the species faces serious threats from habitat loss and potentially from trapping in West Africa, these pressures are limited to a smaller portion of its range. The majority of the population is believed to reside in central Africa, where habitat loss is less severe and vast areas of suitable habitat remain. Additionally, while the use and trade of owls could pose a threat, there is no evidence to suggest it is impacting the Maned Owl, nor that it is occurring at a scale driving population declines that would approach a classification under Criterion A. Should evidence emerge that the use and trade of the species is adversely affecting the population, especially in central Africa, this, along with habitat loss, could warrant a reevaluation.
Preliminary proposal
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 10 November 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 18 November 2024.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Maned Owl is recommended to be listed as Least Concern.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.1 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.